Stretcher or filler for boots, shoes, leggings, &amp;c.



' J. N. OOUHRANE. STRETGHER on FILLER FOB BOOTS, SHOES, LBGGINGS, 6m.

" AIPLIGATION PIL E'D MAR. 12, 1907. RENEWED AUG. 12, 1908. 899,444. Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

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I. N. GO'CHRANE. STRETGHIEB OB FILLERTOB BOOTS, SHOE, LEGGINGS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED :HAR. 12, 1901. RENE-WED AUG. 12, 1908.

Patented Sept; 22, 190-8.-

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THE NORRIS PETERS 6a,, WA SH|NOTON. nv c.

JAMES NELSON OOOHRANE, OF KETTERING, ENGLAND.

STRETCHEB OR FILLER FOR BOOTS, SHOES, LEG-GINGS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

Application filed. March 12, 1907,.Serial No. 362,059 Renewed August 12, 1908. Serial No. 448,191.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns NELSON Coon- RANE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 30 Bayes street, Kettermg is a specification. l0

My invention relates to a filler or stretcher which exerts a tension upon a boot, shoe or legging in an upward direction so as to maintain the same in proper shape for window dressing and for simllar purposes.

According to the invention the improved filler or stretcher comprises a light frame or skeleton provided at its upper part with a device such as an elastic band for gripping the upper end of the bootlegging or the like, the said frame or skeleton being collapsible lengthwise and being furnished with a spring for holding it in the extended position so as to exert the requisite tension in the upward direction upon the boot or the like in which the device is inserted. In the case of a boot or shoe the lower end of the device may rest upon the sole orbe attached to a second elastic band. In the case of a legging the said second band is necessary for holdingthe device in place.

In a suitable arrangement for carrying out the invention the device comprises a top elastic band which is adapted to be applied to the inside of the upper end of the boot upper or of the leg ing, the said band being made of light flexib e metal or other suitable material and having attached to it, preferably by means of internal studs, the upper ends of a wire loop or frame. This wire loop or frame has sliding thereon a downwardly extending bar or the like which may be secured at its lower end to a bottom band adapted to be inserted in the boot, shoe or legging, a spring serving to keep the b ar extended.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, I will describe it by' reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of the improved stretcher or filler as adapted for use with a boot. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22, Fig. 1, and showing the parts fully extended. Fig. 3 is a plan thereof. Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified construction of the stretcher, and Fig. '5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of the stretcher adapted for use with a legging.

as shown in Fig. 1 and is of such a size as to fit the said inside tightly. b is the wire loop or ,arm attached to the band a, preferably by the studs 0, c and d is the downwardly extending bar arran ed to slide in a bearing e on the frame I). is the spring arranged between the lower end of the bearing e and a collar g on the bar (1 and serving to move the bar d relatively with a band, a collar h on the upper end of the said bar limiting such movement.

The device is used as follows, that is to say, the band a is turnedon the studs 0, c to a slight angle relatively with the bar at the said parts being collapsed or moved towards each other against the pressure of the spring f and then introduced into the boot or other article and the band turned and placed in position as shown in Fi 1. The band a bears against the inside of t e top part of the boot upper while the lower end of the bar d rests on the sole, the said band being maintained in place by the pressure it exerts upon the boot and the spring f providing the requisite tension in the upward direction.

Instead of the lower end of the bar (1 rest ing on the sole of the boot, it may be bifurcated as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and provided with a plate 11 of metal or other material shaped somewhat like a boot stiffener and adapted to fit the lower part of the boot.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the lower end ofthe bar 01 is shown attached to a frame 9' formed similarly to the frame I) and connected by pivots or studs It to a spring band Z similar to the band a, the bands a andl being adapted to enga e the inside of the upper and lower portions ofa legging. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. A device of the kind described, consisting of a supporting member provided at one end with a form fitting the interior of the leg portion of a boot, shoe or interior of a legging, pivoted to one end of said supporting member, the other end of said supporting I member being provided with means for engaging another part of the article to which the device is applied, said supporting member being composed of two parts with a spring interposed between them, tending to force the same away from each other, Whereby the form may be turned, to facilitate the insertion of the device in the article to which it is to be applied, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an elastic form fitting the interior of the leg portion of a boot, shoe, or legging, of a supporting member thereforpivotally connected thereto, said form being movable longitudinally of said supporting member, and engaging the sides of the article by frictional contact, and a spring interposed between said form and said supporting member, whereby pressure is exerted longitudinally of the leg portion of the boot, shoe or legging equally at all points around the form, and the insertion of the form into the article is facilitated, substantially as de scribed.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a supporting member having an elastic form, adapted to closely fit a portion of the interior of the article to which it is to be applied, pivoted to one end thereof, of a pivoted elastic form adapted to engage the interior of the leg portion of the said article, connected to and movable longitudinally of the said supporting member and a spring tending to force the two forms away from each other, substantially as described.

4. In a device ofthe kind described, the

combination with a split band adapted to engage the sides of the leg portion of a boot, shoe or legging, a U shaped support, )ivotally connected to saidband and provider with a bearing, a supporting member adapted to slide in said bearing and to engage at one end, another portion of the article to which the device is applied and a spring interposed. between the supporting member and the U shaped support for the band exerting pressure against the said U shaped support, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a split spring band adapted to engage the sides of a boot, shoe or legging aU shaped support of resilient material pivotally connected to said band and provided with a bearing, a supporting member adapted to slide in said bearing and to engage at one end another portion of the article to which the device is applied and a spring interposed between the sup orting member and the U shaped support i' or the band, exerting pressure against the said U shaped support, sub stantially as described.

JAMES NELSON (/OCllRANE.

Witnesses A. M. TROUP, I. W. CAOKBILL. 

